Rotary cylinder printing-press.



H. F. BECHMAN.

ROTARJY CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, I912- RENEWED JUNE 30. l9l7.

11 ,'%@,@U8 Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

| 1 l I l l I I l I l I WITNESSES- H, F. BECHMAN.

ROTARY CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 1912. RENEWED JUNE 30. I91].

1L,2%@ U@& Patented Sept. 11, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I WITNESSES &

IVENTOR H. F. BECHMAN. ROTARY CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 1912. RENE-WED JUNE 30. I917- Patented Sept. 11, 191?.

LQQNU 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@WMMZ menace.

' To all whom it may concern:

HENRY F. BECHMAJN, OF-BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASS IG-NOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING- PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ROTARY CYLINDER. rnmrrne-rnnss.

Application filed September 12, 191-2, Serial No. 719,967. Renewed June 30, 1917. Serial No. 177,989.

' Be it known that I, HENRY-F. BnoHMAN, of Battle Creek, in the county .of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain, new and useful. Improvements in R- tary Cylinder I Printing-Presses; hereby declare that the ollow'ing-is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, refer-' ence being had tothe accompanyin drawin s, which 'form part of this speci cation.

his-invention is a novel improvement in rotary cylinder web printing presses and is what I term a fstaggered section press that can print either two narrow Webs or one wide web without the employment of long plate cylinders p The invention in brief comprises a novel arrangement of two sets of printing or, preferably,

cent each other and, in different vertical planes and, wit the cylinders of the print mg ,mechanism in axial parallelism, the

sets of printing mechanisms bein so relatively located that the inner si e of one printing mechanism slightly overlaps the inner side of the adjacent printing mechai nism, and this enables both sets of printing mechanisms to be supplied from one double width roll of paper by simply splitting the web after it leaves the roll, and without any lateral deflection ofeither half of the split web in order to lead the same to and through its lproper printing mechanism.

a his invention enables, for example, a

four-page-web to be printed on either section of the press, and the sections can be supplied with'webs either from two separate T sary to slit the web atthe proper point and 'narrow web, rolls, or from one wide web roll ;v the wide roll is preferable when both then one-half of it can'be led directto one rooted to separate-folders, or if be assembled and directed to the same perfecting mechanism and the other half to the other perfecting mechanism, and after printing, both halves or webs maybe didesired may folder. The printing sections in brief are staggered so that the right hand edge of a web or part of web passing through one and I- perfecting mechanisms in oneframe, the mechanisms being placed ad a-- .section alines with the left hand edge of the web or part of web passing through the other, section. The invention is particularly useful in connection with single page tubular plates such as shown in my Patents No. 867,230 dated October 1, 1907, and No. 979,919 dated December 27, 1910.; and it enables me for example to print a four page 'the cylinders and streaking of the paper .when operating at high speed with a narrow web. Inthe present construction of presses using four-page wide or wider cylinders, it is frequently desired to print a narrow web from plates mounted on only one end or half of the cylinders. This operation produces an uneven strain on such cylinders and results in their jumping at high speeds when the margins between the plates reach the impression point; and this jumping afi'ects the quality of the printing. In my present invention as only short cylinders are employed a bearing is provided close to each endof. the impression surface when'a Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 1L1, i917.

narrow web is run as well as when a wide 7 web is run, and thus each cylinder is firmly supported and springing and jumping prevented, even at the highest speeds.

. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated conventionally one embodiment of the invention in a rotaryfcylinder press and will explain it more fully with reference thereto.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a conventional top plan view of a press showing the general arrangement ofthe perfecting mechanisms, inking Inech anlsms, and gearin Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation away of such press.

Flg, 4 is a detailend view.

Figs. 5 and 6 are dia ammatical plan and sectional elevations 0 one arrangement of a two-deck press.

As shown the press is provided with two partly broken sets of perfecting mechanisms A and B; each of which sets preferably comprises two plate cylinders 1, 1 and two intermediate impression cylinders 2, 2 co-act ng with the plate cylinders, said cylinders be1n g preferably arranged in one plane. Ink 1s supplied to the cylinders l, 1, respectlvely from inking cylinders or drums 3, 3 to which ink is supplied from fountains 4, 4*, by means of suitable intermediate ductor and distributing rollers which are conventionally illustratedin the drawings. Each perfecting mechanism may be constructed substantially as described in my Patent No. 979,919 and requires no detailed description herein.

When theinvention is adapted to the use of single-page-tubular plates, as described in my aforesaid patents, I preferto mount the outermost journals of the plate cylinders in annular bearings 1 which are slightly smaller in diameter than the cylinders and are connected to the bearings of the adjacent impression cylinders by narrow necks 1, substantially as described in my Patent No. 979,919, so that single-page-tubular-plates may be slipped endwise over such bearings any other well known manner.

on or 03 the cylinders as described in my said patent.

The outer ends of the plate cylinders, in both sets A and B, are journaled in such bearings as described; and the driving gears are attached to the inner ends of the cylinders; and the gearing for driving the cyl1n ders in set A is at the ends of thecylinders opposite to the gearing of the cylinders in' set B.

The plate, impression and inking cylinders in set A are provided with intermeshing gears 5 on their inner ends; and the cylinders in set B are provided with intermeshing gears 5 on their inner ends, so that all such cylinders may be rotated at the same peripheral speed. The cylinders in each set may be driven by means of trains of intermediate gears 5 from gears 5 on a shaft 5l which may be located intermediate the two sets of perfecting mechanisms, as indicated in Figs. 1 and '3.

If it should be desired to use only one set of printing mechanism the other set may be put out of operation by slipping one of the-intermediate gears out of place; or in Above the printing mechanism A may be arranged a guide roller 6* preferably extending the entire width of the press; and

. above the printing mechanism B may be F, F',lto which the printed webs "may be directed; only the formers of such folders are indicated in the drawings; the folder F is shown as in line with the printing mechanism A; and the folder F as in line as much as six or more pages, by collecting at the folder.

Either section of the press as shown is adapted to print two-page-wide webs, and each web may be fed if desired from a separate roll; but when both sections are to print it is preferable to supply both sections from a single four-page-wide web roll, Assuming it is desired to print from both sections, the wide web w maybe led from a roll w suitably mounted at one end of the machine to and over a guide 6 thence to and over a guide 6", where it is divided longitudinally by means of a slitter S, of any suitable construction. One half w of the slit web is then led back from guide 6 to and over guide 6, and then down between the plate and impression cylinders in mechanism 'A; then down under guide 6 and then, if desired, to and under guide 6 and over guide 6. to the folder F, where it may be folded separately from the other half 10 of the web' which is printed in mecha nism B. I

The half to of the web may be led from roller 6 down between the plate and impression cylinders in mechanism B, then down under a guide 6*, and then if desired be led to and over roller 6"to the folder F and be folded separately from part '20 of w and assembled therewith at the roller 6 and passed therewith to the folder F. If desired web w after passing roller 6 may be turned over angle bars 7 and brought into alinement with the webs 'w and then passed under rollers 6 and assembled therewith at roller 6 and led to the folder F."

It should be noted that, by reason of the peculiar laterally displaced or staggered arrangement of the two printing mechanisms lengthwise of the run of the web, both halves of the splitdouble width web can be printed without any lateral deflection thereof prior to printing; just as if all the plates were mounted upon four page wide cylineanne's I ders. It will be'observed that the construetion combines theadvantages ofthe singlepage-tubular plate press, with the handling sets.

j of the minimmnquantity of paper rolls, and

retains'the desired stiffness of construction, and convenlence I of operatiomand access1 bility of parts. For larger presses additional sets ofprintingmechanisms could be added by superposing them overthe other For" instance, a three-deck machine could havetwo duplicate sets of printing mechanisms placed over the single deck shown;'and be driven through intermediate 1 gears from the shaft 5. :-.A threedeck press of this style would have'a maximum capac-- ity of 24 pages (using singlespage-tubular plates) and would be fed from three rollsof paper; and such press would haveaminithe mechanisms A would be mum capacity of two pages using one print a ing section and one-.quarter-width roll. the Same machine 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18,-

20 and 22 pages could berunby disconnect mg printmg sections not required, and using .2 q arter wi rolls as required.

'In'th "example shown in Fig. 1, mechanism A is adjacent the right hand side of the press and mechanism B adjacent the left hand side of the press, looking from the web roll .end thereof; and in building presses with two or more decks, each an exact duranged exactly alike, the printing ,mechamsms are reversed in location in the alternate decks; and the mechanisms A in superposed mechanisms are adjacent opposite sides of the press, and the mechanisms are similarly arranged. Thus in the example shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the printing mechanism A in the lower deck is adjacent the right hand side. of the press viewed from the roll end; while the similar mechanism A in the superposed deck is adjacent the left hand side of the press; also the printing mechanism B in the lower deck is adjacent the left hand side of the press, while the similar mechanism B in the superposed deck is adjacent the right hand side of the press. Presses built up in this way have more clearance between the superposed printing mechanisms.

' When the'press has'a plurality ofprinting decks,- the.folders can be arranged so that the webs from the several printing mechanismsmay be, led to ,the same folder, or to difl'erent folders as desired; and suitable deflecting or angle bars may be provided so that the webs can be deflected, as-

and all I the sembled and directed to any desiredfolder.

When superposed decks are usedit will be possible to print and perfect webs in colors by leading them successively through different printing mechanisms.

While I have described the invention as embodied in a rotary press, and preferably in a single-page tubular-plate machine, the invention could be employed with other kinds of printing mechanisms. Y

While I have shown and described the folders as arranged at one end of the press, the folders could be arranged at the sides of the press if desired, and I do not consider the invention restricted to any particular arrangement or number of folding mechanisms.

a .What I clalm 1s:

In a printing press, the combination of a pair of rotary printing mechanisms so ary ranged that the inner side of one mechanism by twonarrow webs may be printed, or a full width web may be printed by dividing such web and leading one half thereof through each mechanism; with means for overlaps the inner side of the other, wherefolding the printed halves of the web separately or together. I

2. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, two sets of separated rotary perfecting printing mechanisms therein arranged transversely of the main frame, the inner endsof the cylinders in one set overlapping the inner ends of the cyliders in the other set, and driving gearing at the inner side of each perfecting mechanism.

3. In a printing press, the combination of two sets of rotary perfecting printing mechanisms arranged transversely of the main frame, the inner ends of the cylinders in one setextending slightly past the inner ends of the cylinders in the other; means for operating the mechanisms, and means for folding their products separately or together.

4. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a plurality of separated printing mechanisms therein relatively displaced laterally of the frame, the inner end of each mechanism overlapping the inner side of the adjacent mechanism; means for directing a single or double width web throu h said press, and means for splitting a dou le width web before it reaches said mechanisms so that the halves of such Web may be directed to separate mechanisms.

5. In a printing press, the combination of I 6. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a plurality of sets of printing mechanisms therein arranged transversely thereof, the inner side of one mechanism overlapping the inner side of the adjacent mechanism, and gearing on the inner end of a the cylinders in the mechanisms; means for that the halves of such web may be directed to separate printing mechanisms.

7 In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a plurality of sets of printing mechanisms therein arranged transversely thereof, the inner side of one mechanism overlapping the inner side of the adjacent mechanism, means for guiding Webs through said mechanisms, means for splitting a web before it reaches said mechanisms so that the halves of such web may be directed to separate mechanisms; a plurality of folders, and means for directing the webs to either folder, whereby the printed webs may be delivered separately or together.

8. In a printing press the combination of two separated relatively laterally displaced printing mechanisms, means for longitudinally dividing a wide web and means for directing the parts thereof respectively through the related printing mechanism without lateral deflection thereof.

9. In a printing press the combination of two adjacent separated printing mechanisms so arranged that the inner end of one mechanism overlaps the inner end of the other mechanism.

10. In a printingpress the combination of adjacent separated printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism,

and arranged so that the inner ends of the cylinders in one mechanism overlap the inner ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanism, substantially as described.

11. In a printing press the combination of two similar separate printing mechanisms arranged adjacent but one in advance of the other and in different vertical planes, means for longitudinally dividing a wide web and means for directing the parts thereof directly through the related printing mechanism without lateral deflection of either part of the web. 4

12. In a printing press the combination of adjacent sets of printing mechanisms having cylinders in axial parallelism, and arranged in one main frame the inner ends of the cylinders in one set overlapping the inner ends of the cylinders in the adjacent set, substantially as described.

13. In a printing press the combination of two adjacent sets of printing mechanism mounted in one frame and in substantially the same horizontal plane, and so arranged that the inner end of the printing couple in one mechanism overlaps the inner end of the printing couple in the other mechanism.

14:. In a printing press the combination of two adjacent separated printing mechanism so arranged that the inner end of the printing couple in one mechanism overlaps the inner end of the printing couple in the other mechanism; means for longitudinally dividing a wide web and means for directing the parts thereof directly through the related printing mechanism without lateral deflection of either part of the web.

15. In a printing press the combination of a pair of separated relatively laterally displaced printing mechanisms arranged in the same frame; with means for folding the portions of web printed thereby.

16. In a printing press, the combination of two adjacent sets of printing mechanism so arranged that the inner end of the printing couple in one mechanism overlaps the inner end of the printing couple in the other; with means for folding the printed webs separately or together.

17. In a printing press the combination of a pair of laterally displaced printing mechanisms arranged in the same frame; means for longitudinally dividing a wide Web and means for directing the parts thereof directly through the related printing mechanisms without lateral deflection; means for folding the portions of printed web separately or together.

18. In a printing press, the combination of a pair of separated rotary printing mechanisms so arranged that the inner ends of the .printing cylinders in one mechanism overlap the inner ends of the printing cylinders in the other mechanism, and whereby two narrow webs may be printed, or a full width web may be printed; with means for longitudinally dividing a wide web and means for directing the parts thereof directly through the related printing mechanism without lateral deflection of either part of such web.

19. In a printing press, the combination of a plurality of superposed printing decks each deck omprising a plurality of sets of printing mechanism so arranged that the inner side of one set overlaps the inner side of the adjacent set in the deck, and means for directing a Web or part of a web through the printing mechanisms in each deck.

20. In a printing press, the combination of a plurality of superposed printing decks, each deck comprising a plurality of sets of rotary printing mechanism so arranged that the inner ends of the cylinders in one set overlap the inner ends of the cylinders in the adjacent set in the deck; with means for longitudinally dividing wide webs and means for directing the parts thereof di rectly through the related printing mechanisms in the decks without lateral deflection of the webs.

21. In a printing press the combination of aplurality of adjacent separated relatively with i E ofa main frame,

. Web

igeopoe staggered printing mechanisms arranged parallel within one main frame; with means for slitting a wide web and directing the halves of the web without lateral deflection to the respective printing mechanisms.

wide web and directing the halves of the web without lateral deflection to the respective printing mechanisms.

23. In a printing pre'ss the combination of a plurality of separated? printing, mech nisms arranged in the same main frame and staggered in relation to each other; with; means for slitting a wide webanddirecting the halves of the web without lateral deflec-' tion to the respective printing mechanisms.

24. In a printing press the combination of a plurality of separate printing 'mecha-x nisms arranged adjacent and in the same staggered lengthwise frame and relatively of the run of the web whereby two narrow webs may be printed or avwide web maybe printed by dividing such web and'le'ading the portions thereof through the respective mechanisms.

25. In a printing press the combination of a main frame and a plurality of separate similar printing mechanisms in said frame and relatively laterally displaced lengthwise of the run of the web whereby two narrow webs may be printed ora wide web ma be printed by dividing such web andleading the portions thereof through the respective mechanisms.

26. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, and two separate printing mechanisms therein arranged one in advance of the other, and relatively laterally displaced lengthwise of the run of the web, whereby two narrow webs may be printed or a wide web may be printed by dividing such web and leading the portions thereof through the respective mechanisms. 27. In a printing press the combination and a plurality of similar rotary prlntmg mechanisms arranged therein adjacent but one in advance of the other and in different vertical planes, whereby twoonarrow webs may be printed or a wide may be printed by dividing such web and leading the portions thereof throu h the respective mechanisms; with meansaf br folding the printed websor portions of webs separately or together.

28. In a printing press, the-combination of a plurality of superposed printing decks, each deck containing a plurality of separated prlnting mechanisms, the alternate sets of prlnting mechanism in each deck belng arranged adjacent opposite sides of the press and relatively staggered lengthwise of the run of the web, whereby two narrow printed mechanisms webs may be printed or a wide web may be by dividing such web and leading the portions thereofthrouglr the' respective mechanisms.

1 29; In a printing press, the combination 7o ofaplurality of printing decks, each deck. containing-a plurality of separated perfectfing p'rinting rmechanisms, the alternate printing mechanisms in each deck being arrangedg adja'cent 'opposite'sides of the press and-relatively staggered lengthwise of the runof. theweb, whereby two narrow webs may ibe'f printed or a wide web may be printedzabygfdividing' such web and leading v fthe portionsthereof-through the respective mechanisms, and the printing mechanisms in the superposed decks also alternating in position with the mechanisms in the adjacent decks; with means for directing webs to the several mechanisms, and means for folding the printed webs.

, 30. In a printing press the combination of ayplurality of adjacent separated relatively; staggered printing mechanisms arranged parallel within one main frame,

wherebytwo narrow webs may be printed or a wide web may be printed by dividing such web and leading the'portions thereof through the respective mechanisms with means for folding the printed webs or portions of webs separately or together.

31. In a printing press the combination of a plurality of similar separated and relay tivelyclaterally dis'placedprinting mecha nisms arranged parallel within one main 1 frame, whereby two narrow webs maybe printed or a wide web may be printed by dividing such web and leading the portions thereof through the respective mechanisms;

with means for folding the printed webs or portions of webs separately or together. I

32. In a printing press. the combination of two separated and relatively laterally displaced rotary printing mechanisms arranged in axial parallelism and one in advance of the other. whereby two narrow webs may be printed orv a wide web may be printed by dividing such web and leading the portions thereof through the respective or portions of webs separately of a plurality of separated printing mechawith means for folding the may be printed by i I nisms arranged adjacent and in substaning the printed webs or portions of webs separately or together.

35. In a printing press the combination of a pair of separated printing mechanisms arranged in the same frame and relatively laterally displaced lengthwise of the run of the web in substantially the same horizontal plane, whereby two narrow webs may be printed or a wide web may be printed by dividing such web and leading the portions thereof through the respective mechanisms; with means for folding the portions of printed web.

36. In a printing press the combination of a pair of separated relatively laterally displaced printing mechanisms arranged in the same frame; with means for directing webs or portions of the same web through such printing mechanisms without lateral deflection; and means for folding. the portions of printed web. I

37. In a printing press the combination of a plurality of printing mechanisms arranged in the same main frame and staggered in relation to each other lengthwise of the run of the web and adapted to op- V erate upon split sections of the same web without deflection of the web sections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, HENRY F. BECHMAN. Witnesses:

IRVING K. STONE;

CHARLES A. GRANEES. 

